Legal News

$15,000 Fine and Short-Term License Renewal Proposed for Radio Station Missing Issues Programs Lists in Its Online Public Inspection File

By David Oxenford|2019-09-23T08:32:16-05:00September 23rd, 2019|Legal News|

On Friday, the FCC’s Audio Division released its first decision in the current renewal cycle addressing the issue of incomplete public inspection files and missing Quarterly Issues Programs List, proposing to fine an AM station in Virginia $15,000 for apparently not having any Issues Programs Lists in its online public inspection file for the entire... Continue Reading…

Reminder – FCC Political Rules Apply to Off-Year Elections for State and Local Offices

By David Oxenford|2019-09-20T11:15:01-05:00September 20th, 2019|Legal News|

While next year’s federal elections are already receiving most of the publicity, I’ve been getting a surprising number of calls about elections this November. While most broadcast stations don’t think about the FCC’s political broadcasting rules in odd numbered years, they should – particularly in connection with state and local political offices. There are elections... Continue Reading…

Comment Deadlines Announced for Proposed LPFM Rule Changes

By FHH Law|2019-09-20T10:00:32-05:00September 20th, 2019|Legal News|

On August 8, we discussed changes proposed in the technical rules for Low Power FM (LPFM) stations, in an article titled “REC ‘N’ Roll in the FM Band: LPFM Changes Proposed, NCE-FM Changes Requested.” The LPFM Proposals have now been published in the Federal Register, and comment deadlines have been announced. Initial Comments are due...… Continue Reading

Comment Dates Set on FCC Rulemaking to Review LPFM Rules and FM/TV Channel 6 Issues

By David Oxenford|2019-09-19T09:53:28-05:00September 19th, 2019|Legal News|

The FCC’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on LPFM and Channel 6 TV issues, which we wrote about here, was published in the Federal Register today. This sets the deadline for comments in this proceeding as October 21, 2019, with reply comments due by November 4. This proceeding looks at issues including whether to remove all... Continue Reading…

FCC Delays Due Date for Biennial Ownership Reports – But Don’t Forget Other Important Dates for Reg Fees, EAS Test Forms, and New FM Application Forms Next Week

By David Oxenford|2019-09-18T09:37:33-05:00September 18th, 2019|Legal News|

The FCC yesterday announced that the due dates for Biennial Ownership Reports, which had been December 1 of this year, will now be January 31, 2020. The Order announcing that action is available here. The FCC notice says that this additional time is needed to make updates to the ownership forms in the LMS database... Continue Reading…

FCC Announces Extension of the Biennial Broadcast Ownership Report Filing Deadline

By FHH Law|2019-09-18T08:16:34-05:00September 18th, 2019|Legal News|

The Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) has announced in an order published on September 17. 2019 that it will delay the filing deadline to January 31, 2020, for broadcast ownership reports (two months later than the original deadline). This applies to licensees of commercial and noncommercial AM, FM, TV, Class A, and Low Power Television (LPTV)...… Continue Reading

FCC Alters Filing Schedule for Biennial Broadcast Ownership Reports

By Lee G. Petro|2019-09-17T13:50:53-05:00September 17th, 2019|Legal News|

The FCC’s Media Bureau today announced changes to the filing window for submitting Biennial Ownership Reports for commercial and noncommercial stations. The opening of the filing window will be delayed from October 1, 2019 to November 1, 2019, and the window will now close on January 31, 2020, rather than the previously-announced deadline of December […]

FM Radio Construction Permit and License FCC Applications Moving to New Database Next Week

By David Oxenford|2019-09-17T11:09:04-05:00September 17th, 2019|Legal News|

If you have a commercial or noncommercial FM radio station, an LPFM or an FM translator, and are looking to file an FCC application to seek a construction permit to authorize technical changes to your station, or to file a license to cover changes that were previously authorized (or which need no prior authorization), starting... Continue Reading…

New Developments in Broadband – September

By Jeffrey Mitchell|2019-09-17T11:01:05-05:00September 17th, 2019|Legal News|

Capitol Hill House Democrats’ “Leading Infrastructure for Tomorrow’s America Act” (LIFT America Act) –containing $40 billion dedicated for broadband, largely through reverse auctions – remains pending. While prospects for significant federal spending on a new broadband program remain in limbo, Congress has allocated further funding to the United States Department of Agriculture (“USDA”) ReConnect funding...… Continue Reading